Houston Texans outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus will have to wait another week or more to make his preseason debut.

According to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle, the 28-year-old has a soft tissue injury, which has kept him out of practice the past few days. Subsequently, he will not play against the Kansas City Chiefs Thursday night at Arrowhead Stadium.

Mercilus was not at practice on Tuesday, and coach Bill O’Brien did not indicate the former 2012 first-round pick from Illinois was suffering from a particular injury.

“Just giving him a day off,” O’Brien said. “He’ll be back eventually.”

Another edge rusher not playing Thursday is Jadeveon Clowney. The Texans are being cautious with his reintegration into a normal workload after his knee surgery in early January.

On the depth chart listed on the team’s official website, LaTroy Lewis backs up Mercilus as the strong side outside linebacker. Lewis is an undrafted edge rusher from Tennessee last season who went to camp with the Oakland Raiders before landing with the Texans after final cuts. He had a sack and three tackles in two games late last season.

Email

Like this article?

Sign up for the Texans Wire email newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning

An error has occured

Please re-enter your email address.

Thanks for signing up!

You'll now receive the top Texans Wire stories each day directly in your inbox.